Dear brothers, friends, partners in missionary work in Japan,
We are very late in our correspondence, and we apologize for this. The work here in Japan has been challenging in every way, and that includes the disposition of our time as well. We have been busy since the beginning of the year, and this is also a reason to praise God, because it is he who sustains us, encourages us, gives us strength and courage, and also the opportunities for the work to continue.
We have shared the challenge that is the livelihood here. The cost of living is very high and the high dollar that has suffered in recent times punishes us greatly. For this reason, Márcia has been working full time since March in a Brazilian school in our region. She teaches Kindergarten, 3 to 6 years. We are grateful for this open door. This work allowed her visa to be renewed for another three years, and now with a liberal professional status, with the possibility of working for as many hours as she wants, in the occupation of a teacher. However, she leaves the house at 6:30 in the morning and only returns at 18:00.
I've been looking for more English students, although my time is already quite overwhelmed too. I give classes in person and by Skype almost every day and many of them at dawn. In addition, I did not give up spending many hours in the study and preparation of sermons and studies and counseling with the church members. In this time of tightening, God has given me the opportunity to greatly develop my writing and pastoral preparation.
This takes up practically all of our time, and we know that this is not the ideal setting for church planting here. At many times we feel that time with the church has been impaired. We have worked very hard not to loose focus of the main reason that brought us here, and in this time of financial struggles we praise God, because in one way or another, he has raised the means to continue here.
David finished high school in late 2017 and got a job as a teacher at an international school. There he takes care of children from 0 to 4 years old, Japanese, but who are being literate in English. He has developed this work with a lot of dedication and has received praise from other school staff. Imagine the surprise of all, for David never thought of being a teacher one day, let alone to small children! His working hours are still very limited, since his visa does not allow him to work full-time. He took a college entrance exam at an online College for the Literacy course. We would not have the slightest chance of paying for a face-to-face College, so we thank God for the opportunity he has to continue his studies in some way. David took a basic Japanese level 1 course earlier in the year and now has classes at a Music Institute. He has served God with the church music group.
Ruth is leaving the Japanese school. Starting next week she will be back in the Brazilian school, in the same unit where Márcia is working. She asked to return now that she will begin the journey through High School, because she intends to make College entrance exams in Brazil. Ruth wants to attend Law School and from next year is already going to High School. She is helping us a lot with the Japanese. Ruth serves God by helping with the children at the church. We thank God for the opportunity she had to learn both from language and culture.
The Church is also undergoing several changes. We have no meeting place, it is very difficult for us to gather in the pastoral house because of the heat here. Since last month we have rented meeting rooms. Here we can do this for a very high but affordable price. It is difficult to deal with the instability of schedules. Often we do not get compatible hours and we have to change places almost every week. In one of these places we were even banned from singing, so as not to "disturb" other users. But let's take it as long as God allows it.
In our last letter we shared our joy in sending Eidi to the JMC Seminary. Unfortunately he returned due to adaptation issues regarding Brazilian culture, the routine of studies and vocational preparation.
Tomorrow we will get our visas (thank God they were renewed without difficulties) and also renew the passports that are almost expiring. The fees for these documents represent an extra expense of more than two thousand reais. Today, God presented us with an anonymous gift offering sent from New Zealand (there was no sender's name! see the full story at https://ontheroadtojerichoinnkeeper.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-true-story-of-itchy-ox-and-flying-kiwi.html), containing exactly the amount we needed in yen! We're still speechless! We did not share with anyone about this need, and God, who knows and operates in all things, has moved the heart of some servant, who may not even imagine how much he has blessed us! God is good all the time!!! Pray with us for this brother, or sister, who is covered with heavenly blessings!
PRAYER MOTIVES:
- Workers for work in Japan.
- Partners for the maintenance of the work.
-Local for meeting and development of our project.
